Biden's battle against enduring fossil fuel tax breaks

President Biden aims to cut federal tax breaks for the fossil fuel industry, a move met with resistance.

Lisa Friedman reports for The New York Times.

In short:

President Biden's latest budget proposal marks his fourth attempt to eliminate tax breaks for the fossil fuel industry, aiming to cut $35 billion in subsidies over the next decade.
Despite widespread criticism of these subsidies as wasteful, efforts to remove them face opposition from the oil industry, certain Democrats, and Republicans.
The fossil fuel industry benefits from nearly a dozen tax breaks, with two major ones dating back a century, significantly lowering production costs and boosting profits.

Key quote:

"Everybody agrees fossil fuel subsidies are wasteful, stupid and moving things in the wrong direction."

— Michael L. Ross, professor at the University of California, Los Angeles

Why this matters:

Fossil fuel subsidies, amounting to billions of dollars globally, lower the cost of coal, oil, and natural gas, encouraging increased consumption and production of these energy sources. This accelerates greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to global warming and the extreme weather events associated with climate change.

Proposed EPA methane limits may help curtail 7,500 yearly deaths from oil and gas production sites.

www.nytimes.com

Biden's battle against enduring fossil fuel tax breaks

Climate complacency is a worry, says UN environment head

EU to weaken more environment reporting rules, draft document shows

UN says world must jointly tackle issues of climate change, pollution, biodiversity and land loss

Federal judge finds Trump’s halt on wind energy is illegal

Data centers for AI could nearly triple San Jose’s energy use. Who foots the bill?

AI data center backlash: Public opposition to new projects is growing

Nowhere to move: How climate change became the property market’s biggest nightmare

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Pennsylvania health advocates say Trump’s first 100 days in office have caused “100 harms” to local communities

“They're terrorizing these scientists because they want to keep them silent.”

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.